Disclaimer: London Drum has no association with London Zoo. Whilst we make every effort to ensure the event information is accurate, events in London are sometimes cancelled or amended without us being notified. You should always reconfirm the event with London Zoo before making plans

A day at London Zoo is always good fun, but did you know that you can pay a bit more money and get even closer to the animals? And when we say 'close', we really do mean CLOSE. You will be met by a zookeeper and led into actual the enclosure itself!

Obviously they don't do it for all the animals (the lions aren't very friendly, apparently), and it's really just the super-safe ones, like the penguins, giraffes, kangaroos, meerkats, and monkeys in the rainforest room.

Each animal event is slightly different, but you will usually be led into the enclosure and allowed to see them up close. Sometimes you will even be allowed to feed them, and whole they're walking around the zookeeper will be telling you all about them and answering your questions.

If you have an interest in animals then it makes a really great treat (albeit, a very pricey treat). But if you really want to treat yourself then how about becoming a zookeeper for a day? You might like to volunteer on Spitalfields City Farm as well. They don't have any lions or tigers there - it's all farmyard animals like pigs and chickens and sheep - but it does have the considerable advantage of being free.

Craig has never attended this event (he's too much of a scaredy cat for anything like that), but he has written a big review of London Zoo itself, which you might like to read before you go.